Katniss
Everdeen is, to say the least, not the most trusting individual in Suzanne Collins’s
The Hunger Games. Typically, other characters need to prove
their worth and character to Katniss in order to gain her trust. As a result, Katniss is presented as a cautious,
independent survivor; however, Katniss also exemplifies how being independent and
being isolated are two vastly different concepts that should not be used
together. In short, Collins uses Katniss
Everdeen to demonstrate that it is important to be self-sufficient but able to
work collaboratively, as it may mean the difference between life and
death.
Early in
the novel Katniss reveals she was forced to grow up quickly in order to provide
for herself, Prim and her mother.
Collins cleverly reveals this fact when Katniss describes her initial distaste
toward Prim’s pet cat, stating, “The last thing I needed was another mouth to
feed”(3). Katniss frequently hunts for
food, and she does so with her close friend/hunting partner Gale. Katniss greatly respects Gale and his skills,
reflecting on him by saying, “Both of us can hunt alone, but we’re better as a
pair. Particularly if we’re trying for
bigger game. But also in the littler
things, having a partner lightened the load, could even make the arduous task
of filling my family’s table enjoyable” (Collins 109). Though both hunters are great at what they do,
they still depend on each other to help ensure the survival of each other and
each other’s family. Working together
meant more food on their tables and less time searching for food. Though Katniss and Gale could still support
their families if they hunted by themselves, their cooperation makes both
hunters realize that working together leads to greater benefits.
Katniss further
recognizes how essential collaboration is when she fights to the death in the
Hunger Games. A young girl from District
11 named Rue earns Katniss’s trust after not only helping her escape from a
group of Careers, but also treating her wasp stings. Katniss teams up with the girl and explains, “But
I want her. Because she’s a survivor,
and I trust her, and why not admit it? She reminds me of Prim” (Collins
201). Rue reaches out to Katniss and
helps her to survive the games. Katniss
recognizes this and respects Rue based on her character, her skills, and her ability
to survive thus far in the Hunger Games.
Katniss sees Rue as a potential asset and recognizes that an alliance
with Rue could increase her chances of survival.
Trust
proves to be vital to survival. Katniss
realizes, throughout the story, that being self-sufficient is a great gift to
possess; however, to be a lone wolf could prove to be foolish, if not fatal. Collins’s The Hunger Games aims to convey
that trust is the most important tool to possess, as it leads to communication,
support, and strength.
Trust proves to be vital to Katniss’s survival, especially when it comes to her trusting Peeta. I agree with you that trust does not come easily to Katniss, but she learns to trust Peeta throughout the novel, and this trust eventually results in Katniss and Peeta surviving and winning the Hunger Games. Before the Hunger Games begin, Katniss is suspicious of everything nice that Peeta does or says to her. After he smiles and compliments her outfit Katniss thinks, “Don’t be stupid. Peeta is planning how to kill you… He is luring you in to make you easy prey” (72). Katniss continues to distrust Peeta when she finds out he is working with the Careers in the Hunger Games. She wonders, “Is he simply working the Lover Boy angle he initiated at he interview” (197). Katniss has a hard time believing that Peeta could genuinely care about her, especially when it could help him win the games. However, at this point she also wonders, “Or was he simply trying to protect me” (197)? Although Katniss still does not trust Peeta fully, she starts to question if he is motivated out of a desire to live, or out of real love for her. The final act of complete trust she shows with Peeta, that saves both of their lives in the Hunger Games, is eating the poison berries. As Katniss hands the berries to Peeta she asks him to trust her and the count down to three with no hesitation (345). Katniss does not wonder if Peeta will follow through and win the games for himself. She knows he will eat the berries and die with her. This trust results in both Katniss and Peeta being named victors. If Katniss had not learned to trust Peeta, they would not have both survived the Hunger Games.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Katniss has a hard time forming bonds and establishing trust in her life. This is easily understandable because of the experiences she has been through. Her father, whom she adored, died in a mining accident when she was a young girl. Her father, someone who is supposed to be a built-in support system has been taken from her in such a horrible way. Additionally, her mother was essentially taken from her after the death of her father. It was explained that her mother disappeared into herself after the death; Katniss was left to take care of her mother and sister, as well as herself. Her two biggest supports in her life, the two people that she was supposed to trust most in the world were taken from her, leading to her loosing the ability to trust others easily. Ever since she was little, Katniss has been self-sufficient, needing help from no one to survive. Because of the way she was conditioned over time, it is understandable that she has difficulty establishing trust, even though it is essential to her survival in the games.
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